






\Srl.4. 



-.t:V.-^ 







i^ :?; 



POEMS 



ADELBERT LEE YOE. 



• • •• 

'• ••" • • 

• • • • • • 



"The LISRARY OF 

GC^iGRESS, 
Two CurtES Received 

OEC. 5 1901 

-\CoP«HIQHT eNTHY 

class' ^ XXc No. 

f t> / O I 

c®PY a 



,0:1 Tt 



CONTENTS. 



Page, 

Backward O'er the Lapse of Ages, - - 9 

Gathering the Shells, - - - - 12 

The Groves of Illinois, - - - 13 

As Ye Sow, So Ye Shall Reap, - - 15 

The Prodigal's Awakening, - - - 16 

Oh, Sing the Songs of Youth Again, - 18 

A Mother's Song, 19 

Manhood's Plan, ----- 20 

A Mother's Love, ----- 22 

Sabbath Bells, ----- 27 

Death of Day, ------ 28 

Days of Long Ago, . . - - 29 

Grander than the Sunlight Splendor, - 32 

The Sweetest Voice, - - - - 34 

Clouds of Evening, 35 

The Heart That Loved Me, - - - 36 

The Churchyard, 37 

Finding of the Opal, - - - - 38 

The Soft, Dreamy Mazes of Twilight, - 43 



doNTEN'l^S. 

Page. 

The Counsel Hall of Death, - - 44 

The Beautiful Sand, 52 

The Grandest Height, - - - - 53 

White Wings of a Summer Sea, - - 55 

Sonnet, Queen of Sympathy, - - 56 

Sonnet, Morning Light, - - - - 57 

Sonnet, The Storm, . . - . 58 

Sunset, ---.-.. 59 

Brightly Shiucb the Light of Moru, - 60 

Illinois, 61 

Cloudland, 63 

When Childhood Slumbers, - - - 65 

The Sky Lark, 66 

The Ways of Men, 67 

Were Such a Voice to Mortals Given - 70 

To a Thorn Tree, 71 

November, 71 

Life's Gloomy Way, ----- 72 

We are Traveling Toward the West, - 74 

Recalled, - - - , - - - - 75 

In God's Acre, 87 

Jewels, 88 

Quietude, 89 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Robert Burns, ------ 91 

The Old Tramp's Story, - - - 93 

The Eagle and the Snake, - - 98 

Beautiful Sunset Land, - - - 100 

The Wail of a Lost Soul , - - 101 

The Burning Brand, - - - 103 

Dying Light, ----- - 104 

The North Wind, 105 

The Man and the Lion, - 106 

Seeds of Kindness, - . . - 106 

God Bless You, 107 

Silvery Locks and Golden Tresses, 108 

The Palace of the King, - - 109 

Springtide, 112 

What is Heaven? - 113 

Mother, 114 

Lines— To a Little Friend, - - 115 

Golden Locks, - - - . 116 

Eventide, - - - - 118 

Morning, - - 119 

The Angel of Death, - 120 

Twilight Reverie, - - - - 121 

Zerintha, 123 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Life, ------- 124 

The Woodland, - - - - 125 

The Irish Wanderer, - - . - 126 

At Twilight, - 128 

'Tis not of Days, or Months, or Years, 129 

Where Skies are Pure Cerulean, - 130 

Childhood's Happy Home, - - - 131 

Bells of Time, ------ 132 

The Wave and the Star, - . - 134 

Ivike the Strain of Some Sweet Tune, - 135 

Nightshade, ------ 136 

Childhood's Happy Days, - - - 138 

Memory's Hall, 139 

The World's Way, 141 

The First Pair, 142 



I^^OEIivdlS 



ADELBERT LEE YOE. 



BACKWARD O'ER THE LAPSE. 
OF AGES. 

Backward o'er the lapse of ages, 

Look with calm and steadfast eye,. 
Scan the work of mighty sages, 

Men whose fame will never die; 
Men who strove with hearts unsulh'ed 

By the crimson taints of sin, 
With the cause of justice allied. 

Life's great victories did win. 

Cherish thou each truthful maxim, 
Simple though to thee it seem, 

Knowest thou that every axiom 

Bright and brighter still shall gleam, 

As a fire upon an altar. 



10 I 'OEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Make thy soul-strength manifest, 
Onward, upward, never falter, 

Be the theme that fires thy breast. 

Do not deem thy selt-enjoyment 

All thou needst to see or hear; 
Give thy time to pure employment, 

Rise unto thy higher sphere. 
Life is not alone for pleasures, 

Something greater are its needs, 
Thou canst make thy worldly treasures 

Grander still by noble deeds. 

Look thou not on wealth with malice, 

Deem in that but joy is felt, 
Oft in many a regal palace 

Sad and broken hearts have dwelt; 
Though thy soul be heavy laden 

With the trials of thy lot, 
Know contentment makes an Eden 

Of the toiler's lowly cot. 

Do not think of time to borrow, 
While the moments speed away — 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 11 

Do not wait the coming morrow — 
Act, where duty calls, to-day; 

Though thy work seems but an atom, 
Finding no responsive heart, 

Every great man at the bottom 
Of the ladder first did start. 

Choose them as thy great example. 

Follow in their footsteps bright, 
On the weaker never trample, 

Bravely battle for the right, 
And the world will always bless thee 

As a hero and a friend. 
Glory, honor, joys caress thee, 

And with peace forever blend. 



12 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

GATHERING THE SHELLS. 
I dreamed the day was bright and fair, 

I walked along the beach, 
Upon the sands and free from care, 

Beyond the surge's reach; 
Strewn out upon the sounding shore 

Were many gems and shells, 
Thrown out when high tide billows roar. 

And ocean seethes and swells. 

Upon the shore a countless throng 

Was surging here and there; 
With heedless haste they rushed along. 

Gathering the shells so fair. 
For tinted azure, rose and gold. 

Sought in the shells alone. 
But all the tales the sea-shells told 

Were ocean's groan and moan. 

But here and there some brighter glance 

Would spy a gem or pearl. 
Half hidden in the sand, by chance, 

Half lost in the giddy whirl; 
Some gem that, polished, shining fair, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 13 

Its worth the truest tells, 
But most of those who wandered there 
Sought but the glittering shells. 

Just so it is with men, they seek 

The glittering prize alone 
Of worldly pleasures frail and weak, 

So lightly round them thrown^ 
Nor try to cleanse the rough and slime 

That hides the truth from them, 
But gather on the shores of time 

The shells and leave the gems. 



THE GROVES OF ILLINOIS. 

Now spring has clad on every side 
The teeming landscape far and wide. 
And sweetly decked in vernal pride 
The groves of Illinois. 

CHORUS. 

Thy bonny groves, dear Illinois, 
Thy glory, beauty, pride and joy, 
There's naught can e'er my love destroy 
For thy fair groves, dear Illinois. 



14 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 
Let others sing of climes more fair, 
Where trees eternal verdure wear, 
To me a thousand times more dear 
The groves of Illinois. 

How sweet through morning hours long 
To hear the warbler's cheerful song, 
That pure and clear doth ring among 
The groves of Illinois. 

When summer's sun, with torrid heat, 
Doth downward fierce and heavy beat. 
How pleasant is the green retreat. 
The groves of Illinois. 

With singing birds, and fragrant flowers. 
And shady nooks, and wildwood bowers, 
Tis one of nature's fairest dowers, 
The groves of Illinois. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 15 

AS YE SOW, SO SHALL YE REAP. 

As ye sow, so ye shall reap, 

And the yielding shall be dtep. 
Yea, an hundred fold or more 

Shall be thine of golden store; 
Richest grain, or it may be 

Hundred fold of misery. 
So be sure that thou dost know 

What it is that thou dost sow. 

As ye sow, so ye shall reap. 

It will grow while thou dost sleep, 
Sowing good, or sowing ill, 

Thou shalt sow and thou shalt till; 
For whate'er ye sow, 'tis said, 

Thine shalt be a just reward. 
So be sure that thou dost know 

What it is that thou dost sow. 

As ye sow, so ye shall reap, 
Pure delight, or sorrow deep. 

Rising grand and grander still. 
Or shall sink to regions fell; 



16 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Thine shall be a mansion bright, 
Or the shades of endless night. 

So be sure that thou dost know 
What it is that thou dost sow. 



THE PRODIGAL'S AWAKENING. 

I followed the footsteps of Pleasure, 

Led on by her sweet luring smile, 
I deemed her fair gifts each a treasure, 

Nor once did I think of their guile; 
Nor heeded whereat I was treading, 

For all things seemed lovely and lair, 
Nor saw that a net she was spreading 

My wandering feet to ensnare. 

I heard and rejoiced at her singing, 

The voice of that siren was sweet, 
So grandly the wild echoes ringing, 

The notes of her song did repeat; 
I, heedless, pressed on in pursuing 

The phantom of light and of joy. 
Nor thought that the things I was doing 

My happiness e'er could destroy. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 17 

I wandered through valleys enchanted, 

Sweet birds and sweet flowers were there, 
'Mong bowers the fair goddess haunted, 

The sweetest perfumes filled the air; 
I followed her on in her rambles, 

'Mid scenes that were lovely as morn, 
But soon found my path set with brambles, 

And many a wide spreading thorn. 

I strayed from the straight paths of duty, 

I tasted the wine bright and red. 
The smiling of vile wanton beauty 

My feet in the haunts of vice led; 
Through many a wild scene and revel 

I passed, in my blindness rushed on, 
Not heeding the acts, or the evil, 

Or wrongs in my recklessness done. 

At last, from my soul-slumber waking, 
From out of the soul's dreary night, 

The dawn of the day-star, bright breaking, 
Shed around me its pure rays of light; 

And I learned then at last, to my sorrow, 



18 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

How vain are the things of the earth, 
How soulless, how comfortless, narrow, 
The things that the world counts of worth. 

Vain things of the earth that, belying. 

Their baseness and vices had proved. 
Had found them so false, unrelying, 

I hated the things I once loved; 
And rejoiced in the light of the dawning, 

For the light that upon me had broke, 
Then false pleasure fled, from her fawning 

To life's purer joys I awoke. 



OH, SING THE SONGS OF YOUTH 
AGAIN. 

Oh, sing the songs of youth again, 
The songs beloved in days of yore, 

The wavelets catch the happy strain 
And laugh as they kiss the pebbly shore. 

Rejoice, sad heart, the flowers bloom. 
The birds still sing as in long ago, 

To cheer the dreary hours of gloom, 
And sweet as then is the streamlet's flow. 



rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 19 

Be glad, oh soul, still nature smiles, 
Life's rugged pathway to adorn; 

Though cloud-born shadows oft beguile, 
The evening sun shines fair as morn. 

The same bright gold is in the sky 

That shone around life's morning way, 

And still with earth-born beauties vie. 
Resplendent in its evening ray. 

Oh, sing a song of cheer, glad heart, 
For many souls are in life's train, 

That, oft oppressed by sorrow's darts, 
Would gladly catch the happy strain. 



A MOTHER'S SONG. 

A mother sang a song one morn, 
To happy innocence so dear, 

That wafted o'er 

To heaven's shore, 
And all the angels paused to hear 



20 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Then rang an anthem sweet and grand, 
Around the shining throne above, 

The sweetest tone 

That earth doth own, 
It is a mother's song of love. 



MANHOOD'S PLAN. 
When the dreary clouds doth roll 
Dark and threatening o'er the soul, 
When the ills of life oppress, 
With their loads of care distress. 
Onward press and act your part, 
Sturdy arm and fearless heart, 
Work your way by manhood's plan- 
Prove that you can be a man. 

When within the paths of sin 
Pleasure tries thy steps to win, 
Shows a pathway fair and bright 
With the flash of worldly light, 
Shun her path and spurn her smile. 
But intended to beguile. 
Honor's law is manhood's plan — 
Prove that you can be a man. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 21 

Though the way seem long and drear, 
Cold and dismal, naught to cheer, 
Press right on and up the hill, 
Climbing higher, higher still; 
Do your duty first and last. 
Though loud roars the surly blast, 
Work your way by manhood's plan — 
Prove that you can be a man. 

Bright the golden sun will shine, 
With a splendor pure, divine, 
Bringing peace and bringing joy, 
Happiness naught can destroy; 
All the trials will repay 
That beset life's rugged way. 
If you work by manhood's plan, 
Proving you can be a man. 



22 POEMS OF ADELBBRT LEE YOE. 

A MOTHER'S LOVE. 

An angel once came on a mission of mercy, 
Came down from the fair shining regions 
of light. 
On snowy white wings from the portals of 
heaven, 
And bright was his smile as the sunbeams 
so bright; 
Came down to this dark, dreary region of 
sorrow, 
The standard of peace, joy and glory 
unfurled, 
While the light of his smile, so grand in 
its beauty, 
Shone out and enkindled the hearts of 
the world 

To hearts bowed in sorrow brought sweet 

words of comfort. 
To souls in affliction brought peace and 

relief. 
So loving and tender, so peaceful and 

gentle, 
He came, like the sunshine, a balm to 

their grief; 
O'er the nations of earth scattered showers 

of blessings. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 23 

O'er broad teeming valleys, and hills 

forest-clad, 
With a mantle of verdure, bestrewn with 

fair flowers, 
He decked the fairlandscape sweet smiling 

and glad. 

At last, his great mission on earth was 
accomplished. 
He prepared to return to that bright 
realm above, 
When reviewing the good that to earth 
had been granted. 
The blessings and joys of his labor of 
love, 
He wished to bear back with him unto that 
region 
Some gem, to that haven by mortals 
untrod, 
Some token, the fairest of all of earth's 
treasures, 
The best of the earth for the kingdom 
of God. 

By the side of a clear purling streamlet, 
sweet flowers 
Grew fair as an Eden in beauty of bloom, 



24 POEMS OP ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

They caught up the bright sparkling dews 
and the sunshine, 
On the wings of the morning they shed 
their perfume; 
He gazed on the flowers and smiled at 
their beauty, 
And plucked their fair forms from their 
tall waving stems, 
As he said, "Surely these are the sweetest 
of treasures. 
In their bright glowing beauty earth's 
fairest of gems." 

But onward he journed, as fair as the 
morning, 
When first beams awaken and herald 
the dawn, 
With heart thrilled and joyous he viewed 
the fair landscape, 
So fair in the bright golden light of the 
sun; 
When he saw the bowed form of a penitent 
sinner. 
In sorrow for sin, kneeling low on the 
ground, 
He caught up a tear of that heart wrung 
in anguish — 



POEMS OP ADELBERT LEE YOE. 25 

Far dearer than flowers the prize he had 
found. 



But, still roving onward, as mild as the 
breezes 
That kiss the fair flowers in sunniest 
climes, 
And hearing in accents so loving and 
tender, 
Sweet tones, calm and low as the softest 
of chimes. 
He beheld a young mother who clasped 
to her bosom, 
As pure as an angel, her darling, her 
child, 
With a true love, unknown to all else but 
a mother, 
She caressed it, her dearest, so pure, 
undefiled. 

"Ah that love! " said the angel, "was ever 

prize dearer 
Than love of a mother, so tender and 

true?" 
So he caught up that mother-love, earth's 

dearest treasure, 

3 



26 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

The fairest, the sweetest and purest, he 

knew; 
Then, bidding adieu to the scenes of his 

labors, 
And turning his gaze to that land fair 

and bright, 
Then soaring away on his snowy white 

pinions, 
As swift as the sunbeams winged upward 

his flight. 

But Hearing the fair, shining portals of 
glory. 
He gazed on his treasures, once fair as 
the day, 
But the bright glowing tints of the flowers 
had faded, 
And the penitent tear had long vanished 
away; 
But the mother-love, pure as a spirit of 
heaven, 
Shone out with a beauty more sacred 
and blest, 
And the angels all sang, "Of the earth's 
dearest treasures, 
The love of a mother is purest and best." 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 27 

SABBATH BELLS. 

List to the tones of the sweet Sabbath 

bells, 
Sweet is the story their melody tells, 
Ring out their notes on the mild balmy air, 
Music so sweet and so fair. 

CHORUS. 

List to the Sabbath bells! list to the 
Sabbath bells! 
Hark! hear their ringing, their glad 
merry chime; 
List to the Sabbath bells! sweet sounding 
Sabbath bells. 
Chiming the story so grand and sublime. 

List to the Sabbath bells; sweetly they 

ring. 
Peace unto earth, and glad tidings they 

bring, 
Telling of heaven, that beautiful home. 
Bidding the wanderer come. 

List to the bells on the fair Sabbath morn, 
Telling of Jesus, in Bethlehem born, 
Chiming the story so old and so sweet, 
Grandly the echoes repeat. 



28 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

DEATH OF DAY. 

She smiled through fading mist of rose 
and purple, 
Her smile as sweet as brow of morning 
wore, 
One parting ray of love shed o'er the 
landscape, 
Then passed forever from this changing 
shore. 

Attending Night let fall her sable curtain, 
And hid her smiling features, heaven's 
pride, 
Then mourning nature, in her deepest 
sorrow. 
Shed dewy tears of grief when daylight 
died. 

Deep in the vault of Past, Time laid her 
gently, 
Clad in her sable robe of nightly gloom. 
Then heaven's starry host, so fair, assem- 
bled, 
And shed their mellow beams around 
her tomb. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 29 

Then traced in purest gold by angel fingers, 

Upon the scroll of time, in letters bright, 

She brought unto the world God's choicest 

blessings, 

The joy and peace of heaven's golden 

Light. 



DAYS OF LONG AGO. 

A?i Imitation. Air — Aiild Lang Syne. 

Should old-time friends forgotten be, 

As time doth onward flow? 
Should we forget the friends of youth, 

And days of long ago? 
And days of long ago, my friend, 

And days of long ago; 
Should we forget the friends of youth, 

And days of lon^ ago? 

We oft have roamed the woodland wild, 

Where fragrant flowers blow, 
And culled their blossoms sweet and fair, 

In days of long ago. 
In days of long ago, my friend, 



30 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

In days of long ago; 
And culled their blossoms sweet and fair, 
In days of long ago. 

We've sailed the river's crystal tide, 

That stately on doth flow, 
But far adown Time's stream we've passed 

Since days of long ago. 
Since days of long ago, my friend, 

Since day's of long ago; 
That gliding stream has borne us far, 

Since days of long ago. 

We've toiled together in the fields, 

Beneath the summer's glow. 
But many a weary way we've trod. 

Since days of long ago. 
Since days of long ago, my friend, 

Since days of long ago; 
Yes, many a weary mile we've trod 

Since days of long ago. 



rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 31 

Full often storms have round us raved, 

Clouds threatning hung and low, 
But skies were pure cerulean then, 

In days of long ago. 
In days of long ago, my friend, 

In days of long ago; 
Yes, skies were bright and life a song, 

In days of long ago. 

The steps that once were fleet and strong, 

Are feeble now and slow. 
And raven locks have turned to gray, 

Since days of long ago. 
Since days of long ago, my friend. 

Since days of long ago; 
And raven locks have turned to gray, 

Since days of long ago. 

And eyes are dim that once shone bright, 

With joys of youth aglow. 
And age has marked the brows once fair. 

Since days of long ago. 
Since days of long ago, my friend, 



32 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Since days of long ago; 
Yes, time has furrowed deep our brows, 
Since days of long ago. 

Now here's a hand in friendship's clasp, 

Death soon shall lay us low; 
But we will cherish to the last, 

The days of long ago. 
The days of long ago, my friend, 

The days of long ago; 
Yes, we will cherish to the last, 

The days of long ago. 



GRANDER THAN THE SUN- 
LIGHT SPLENDOR. 

Grander than the sunlight splendor, 
Shining clear and pure and bright, 
Milder than the starlight tender. 

Twinkling in the cloudless night, 
Is the heart that bears each trial. 
Sorrow, care and self-denial. 
Stands the sinning world above. 
In peace and harmony doth move. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 33 

Little words and deeds of kindness, 

What a world of joy they give! 
Turn to light the dreary blindness 

Of souls that in darkness live; 
Scarce a purer joy of heaven 
Unto mortals could be given, 
Than which kindly word or deed 
Gives to hearts that sorrowing bleed. 

Like a radiant flower blooming. 
Sweetly blooming, fresh and fair, 

Cheers the dark and dreary gloaming 
Of hearts fated to despair; 

Springs a hope within the bosom, 

That will sweetly grow and blossom; 

Fills the heart with light divine. 

That eternallv shall shine. 



34 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

THE SWEETEST VOICE. 

Hushed is the voice that cheered life's 
spring-time days, 
Cold are the hands that once caressed 
my brow, 
Stilled is the heart that brighter made my 
way, 
Low in the silent tomb is lying now. 

Those gentle tones, as sweet as music's 
flow, 

Did purest joys unto my soul impart; 
Those tender words I heard long years ago 

Still echo in the chambers of my heart. 

From out the tomb that form, so cold and 
white, 
Shall rise again, in heavenly beauty fair; 
That voice shall sing around the throne of 
light, 
Beyond this dreary vale of tears and 
care. 

Fair shining in that tacred realm above, 
The soul that once this dreary earthway 
trod. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 35 

Shall dwell forevermore in peace and love, 
In that bright home, the paradise of God. 

Although I miss that gentle voice so sweet, 
Still, oh what joy to feel that, pure and 
grand. 

It shall a nobler, sweeter song repeat. 
In sacred peace upon that golden strand. 



CLOUDS OF EVENING. 

I see the clouds, the fleecy clouds, 
In many a wind-swung fold, 

All bordered with the sunset light 
Of purest red and gold. 

So lightly do they seem to float 

Across the evening sky. 
So fair, so grand, their beauty 

With the clouds of morning vie. 

So may, at sunset of my life. 
The clouds in beauty gleam, 

As fair as when my fragile bark 
First launched upon life's stream 



36 rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

THE HEART THAT LOVED ME. 

Still is the heart, forever still, 
The heart that loved me, loved me well; 
Hushed is that voice of tenderness, 
Cold are those hands of mild caress; 
Far be the hour when I forget, 
For ay^e the thought in memory set. 
Of that pure heart, now cold and still. 
The heart that loved me, loved me well. 

Not her's to know, not her's to see, 
If Fortune smiles or frowns on me; 
Not her's a mother's sacred name. 
But her's a mother-love the same; 
Oh! in my memory, ever green, 
Tho' miles and years shall pass between, 
I'll fondly, fondly cherish still 
The heart that loved me, loved me well. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 37 

THE CHURCHYARD. 

Within this lot let wandering steps 
Tread lightly,for'tis hallowed ground; 

Within this lot the sacred shrine 
Of many a loving heart is found — 

The place where many a heart has bled 
For age and youth alike laid low, 

The ripened grain and budding flowers, 

That fell where the chilling waters flow. 

By many a green and grassy mound 

The monumental marble stands, 
Placed there, in sweet remembrance, by 

The tender, gentle, loving hands; 
Ah! idle wanderer, when ye pause 

To read the lettered marble's line. 
Read thoughtfully, none know how soon 

The narrow dwelling may be thine. 



38 I OEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

FINDING OF THE OPAL. 

Have you ever heard the story, 

Heard the queer and quaint old legend, 

Of the finding of the opal, 

In whose bosom fair the sunlight, 

And the moonlight, and the starlight, 

Fair as rainbow tints, doth mingle 

In a pure and glowing beauty? 

For whoe'er can rightly tell it, 

'Tis a very pretty story. 

'Twas a gem of wondrous beauty, 

Very beautiful and precious, 

That in dark and far off ages, 

In the dim and long past ages, 

The old wizards, wise and skillful 

In the weird and occult mystics 

Of the art of necromancy, 

Used to tell lay deftly hidden 

In a very far off region, 

Where the rosy glow of sunlight 

And the moonlight joined each other, 

In the mazy land of twilight, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 39 

Where the sun's bright rays doth linger 

In a sheen of rose and purple, 

Till the smile of Night's pale Empress 

Meets and sweetly mingles with it, 

In a beauty pure and glowing, 

In a halo fair, entrancing, 

As the light that, scintillating, 

Glows within the opal's bosom. 

Long, longyears werespent in searching 

For the fair and hidden treasure. 

For the wise old necromancers, 

In their craft adept and cunning, 

Told that whosoe'er discovered 

Where the evanescent sunbeams 

And the moonlight met and mingled, 

Where the sunbeams, rose and golden. 

And the silvery tinted moonbeams 

Mingle in their glowing beauty. 

For their toil should be rewarded 

With a vast amount of opals, 

Large, and beautiful and brilliant; 

And no one could doubt their wisdom. 

For to them was given knowledge 



40 rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Of things hidden, dark and mystic. 
Many lovers of adventure, 
Men of every rank and station, 
Seeking wealth, and fame, and honor. 
Lost their lives in vainly searching; 
Or, without the steadfast courage, 
Ceased their toil at last, discouraged. 
But at last, a weary traveler. 
With a soul of perseverance, 
With a firm and steadfast courage, 
With the spirit of a hero, 
Scorning toil, and strife, and danger. 
After long, long years of searching, 
After years of weary toiling. 
Wandering over hills and mountains, 
Over drear and sandy deserts. 
Over plains and dark morasses. 
Over lakes and mighty rivers. 
Deep in wild and tangled forests, 
And to distant isles of ocean, 
Never halting, ne'er despairing, 
Onward striving, ever hoping 
That success at last would crown him, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 41 

That success would crown his efforts, 
And he'd gain his long sought prizes, 
Found at last a quiet region, 
Found a land of peaceful quiet, 
Quiet, save when gentle murmurs 
Of the balmy west wind whispers, 
With a sweet and peaceful cadence, 
Through the bowers of the woodland. 
There he followed up the sunrays, 
As the sun was slowly setting. 
As the sun, in golden splendor, 
Sank behind the western hill tops; 
Followed where the last ray ended, 
Where the last ray sweetly melted 
In a fair and rosy halo. 
As the first ray of the moonlight. 
Gleaming o'er the far horizon. 
Shining in its silvery beauty, 
Met the sun's last ray and blenfed 
In a beamy iridescence, 
In a pale and misty beauty, 
As the light that, scintillating. 
Shines within the opal's bosom. 

4 



42 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

There he found his precious jewels, 
There he found his long-sought treasures 
There he found the blending opals; 
Thus he won by years of toiling, 
Thus he won by persevering. 
Many gems of wondrous beauty, 
Glowing gems of priceless merit. 
For within their shining bosoms, 
Deep within their glowing centers, 
Iridescent, scintillating, 
Fair the rose and gold of sunlight. 
And the silvery glow of moonlight, 
And the beamy rays of starlight, 
Meet and sweetly blend and mingle. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 43 

THE SOFT DREAMY MAZES 
OF TWILIGHT 

The soft dreamy mazes of twilight 

Like a curtain around me is thrown, 
Oh! star of the evening, in thy light 

My spirit can ne'er feel alone; 
The breath of the wild roses, blowing, 

So sweetly perfumes the mild air, 
So here, in the daylight's last glowing, 

I will banish all sorrow and care. 

I will dream, while the glad daylight closes, 

Of climes that are fairer than this, 
While the sweet scented breath of the roses 

Thrills my soul with an exquisite bliss; 
While gently the soft dewy shower 

Bright sparkles in starlight's mild beam, 
Who could wish for a lovelier hour 

Of joy, peace and pleasure to dream. 



44 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

THE COUNSEL HALL OF DEATH. 

Within a dingy cavern hall, 
As dark as any funeral pall, 
A horrid monster, grim and tall, 

So legend saith, 
Surrounded by his vassals all, 

Sat stern old Death. 

Upon a weird and ghastly throne, 
Builded of human skull and bone. 
Blood-curdling was the baleful tone 

In which he spoke: 
"The whole wide world shall be my own, 

And bear my yoke." 

Dark, dark as hell that awful den, 
More loathsome than a stagnant fen, 
And far, far worse than mortal ken 

Can picture it, 
For there is sealed the doom of men 

Naught can remit. 

He called his ghoulish legions round, 
When to her lone, remotest bound. 



rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 45 

The wide world trembled at the sound, 

In dire affright, 
In deepest, darkest misery crowned. 

By fiends of night. 

It was a ghastly group and dark, 

With each one bound for fiendish work, 

For in each demon breast did lurk 

A stern desire, 
To sink some bright and shining mark 

In death's chill mire. 

Before the throne grim Murder stood, 
And War, with hands deep stained with 

blood. 
Diseases dire, in stubborn mood, 

Stood round about, 
And Sin, the mother of the brood, 

With sneering pout. 

Gaunt, ghastly Famine, too, was there, 
With dismal, dark and dreadful glare, 
And Suicide, with fell Despair, 
Her constant friend. 



46 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

And everything that e'er could dare 
A life to end. 

Grim Murder was the first to speak: 
"My lord, I bring both strong and weak, 
I love to hear the shrill death shriek 

Of pain or fear; 
To see the blanching of the cheek 

To me is dear. 

I have three helpers strong and good — 
Envy and Jealousy, of one blood, 
And Avarice has always stood, 

With ready hand, 
To draw with vim the crimson flood, 

Or hurl the brand. 

Envy and Jealousy oft have stirred 
The souls of men, and at my word, 
Although the cause is oft unheard, 

And thought unknown, 
Will speed the dart swift as a bird, 

Or arrow flown. 



POEilS OF ADEIJJKUT LEE YOE. 47 

And Avarice, poison as an asp, 

Is ever gathering in her grasp 

A fiendish, tight and bloody clasp, 

For useless gain. 
Will squeeze until the last, last gasp 

Is given in vain. 

Then o'er her work will jeering laugh, 

As, raking in the worldly chaff, 

The warm heart's blood will gaily quaff, 

Though 'twere as gall; 
Nor will she stop at taking half, 

But grasps it all. 

But this, the best of all, I think, 
First drags men down to ruin's brink, 
And soul and body both doth sink 

Forevermore; 
No better help have I than Drink, 

Upon time's shore. 

The very best they for the work, 
From sternest tasks they will not shirk, 



48 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

In daylight's glare or in the dark, 

But night the best 
To hurl the shaft or ply thedi rk, 

A I fe to wrest." 

"Thou art," said Death, "a noble son, 
Although 'tis said thy heart is stone, 
To me sweet music is thy tone, 

The sweetest song; 
Grand are the victories thou hast won 

O'er earth's great throng." 

Then next spake War, a giant great. 
"My lord, a time of peace I hate, 
I lay my hand with heavy weight 

On every nation, 
And happy homes make desolate 

In every station. 

I love to see the sorrowing tear 
That gushes forth when I appear. 
With the death dealing blade and spear, 

A land to waste; 
I love the gory shroud and bier 

Of every caste. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 49 

I love to show my power, my might, 
The crimson flood pleases my sight, 
The dying groans are my delight, 

The wide world o'er; 
I love to hear the sound of fight. 

The battle's roar. 

I love to see the stern array 
Of warriors ready for the fray, 
To me it is a glorious day 

When thousands fall; 
I love to hear the bugle bray, 

To battle call. 

My millions I've already slain. 
On gory field and rolling main. 
The blood that I have shed would stain 

The world entire; 
O'er all the world in blood to reign 

Is my desire." 

And spake the others, one by one, 
"Lord, our work, too, has been well done, 



50 FOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

And until Time shall cease to run, 

We'll tireless work; 
Long as there's triumphs to be won, 

We'll never shirk. 

We crush the young and old the same. 

The hero in the blaze of fame, 

The lowly wight with lustreless name, 

All fare alike; 
Ambition's fretful course we tame, 

Where'er we strike. 

The fondest cherished hopes we blast, 
Dark shadows o'er life's way we cast, 
Where'er we go we gather fast 

Dear loved ones in; 
How hearts doth shrink as we glide past, 

All things to win." 

They spake for hours with might and main, 
Each sought his lord's best word to gain. 
Who listened to the awful strain, 
With mean delight; 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Bloodcurdling tales of strife and pain 
They did recite. 

*'Ye all are worthy children mine," 
He said, "nor e'er your tasks resign, 
But bring the whole world into line, 

Fast as ye can; 
Go forth, and each work his design 

'Gainst every man. 

Go out into the world once more, 
From pole to pole, from shore to shore, 
And never think of giving o'er 

A single task, 
No difference how loved ones implore, 

Or what they ask." 

Each heard the word with grim delight 
And, robed in darkest shades of night, 
They all prepared to wing their flight, 

And soon they sped. 
To try 'gainst man their fiendish might. 

And lay him dead. 



52 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

THE BEAUTIFUL SAND. 

Oh, how sweet to hear the ripples 

As they murmur on the strand, 
Oh, how sweet to see the wavelets 

As they break upon the sand — 
The white sand, the beautiful sand, 

The beautiful sand so bright. 
The white sand, the shifting sand, 

The shifting sand so white. 

Oh, how sad to hear the billows 

As they beat upon the strand. 
Oh, how sad to see the surges 

As they roll out o'er the sand — 
The white sand, the beautiful sand, 

The beautiful sand so bright. 
The white sand, the shifting sand, 

The shifting sand so white. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 53 

THE GRANDEST HEIGHT. 

How often men attempt to rise, 
By worldly deeds of high emprise; 
How oft they try to emulate 
The deeds of others grand and great, 
And even think that they can soar 
Where others ne'er have been before. 

How often waste their manhood's prime, 
The slippery steep of Fame to climb, 
How waste their years of worth untold, 
Bowed down before their god of gold, 
Nor learn, till standing by their graves, 
'Tis naught but bubbles on time's waves. 

Ah! fellow creatures of the dust. 
Why place in things of earth thy trust? 
A purer riches thou should seek 
Than things of earth so frail and weak, 
And give thy time to nobler thought 
Than things with earthly pleasures fraught. 



54 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

There is a wealth of greater worth 
Than all the baubles of the earth, 
And purer joys than earth doth own, 
In Mammon halls, or kingly throne; 
It gleams upon a grander height 
Than trodden by the souls of night. 

Upon that height a treasure lies, 
Nor clad in flash of worldly guise, 
But, in its purity, doth gleam 
Fair as the golden noontide beam. 
And brightly glowing, ever still, 
Shines for the whosoever will. 

Do though but tireless onward climb. 
Toward that summit grand, sublime, 
Success will shine in splendor down, 
And with a golden halo crown, 
In heaven's fairest smile, for thee 
The towering heights of destiny. 

Press boldly onward in the might 

And strength of truth, and heaven's light, 

Then will thy praises pure, sublime, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 55 

Ring e'en upon the shores of time, 
And in grand anthems, strong and free, 
Re-echo through eternity. 



WHITE WINGS OF A SUMMER SEA. 
Out where the blue waves toss in the 
sunshine, 

Their foam-crowned crests so white. 
Sail the fair ships in splendor and beauty, 

Thrills the glad hearts with delight; 
White wings spread out o'er the blue waters. 

Wafted by breezes so free, 
Snowy white wings, that never grow weary, 

White wings of a summer sea. 
Gaily they dance o'er the rolling billows, 

Tossing the briny spray, 
Fair as the clouds on the fields of azure, 

Gaily they hasten away; 
Grandly they sail, with happy hearts 
ladened. 

Hearts filled with merry glee, 
Snowy white pinions, wafting in beauty. 

White wings of a summer sea. 



56 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

SONNET, QUEEN OF SYMPATHY. 

With trembling lips, and eyes bedimmed 

with tears, 
And pitying heart, she doth an angel stand. 
With tender loving words, and gentle 

hands, 
She calms and soothes the aching brow, 

and cheers 
The heart as no one else can do, the fears, 
That hover 'round all flee at her command, 
As if 'gainst them she waves a magic wand. 
And by each action to the heart endears, 
And unto humble homes, a sacred light, 
Fair as the light of heaven doth sweetly 

shed, 
Calm and serene, and pure, and leads 

aright. 
The thankful trusting heart, on pinions 

spread. 
Her soul goes out to all of humankind, 
To cheer, and bless, her noble work de- 
signed. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 57 

SONNET, MORNING LIGHT. 

Bright rosy bars across the eastern sky, 
Aurora sweetly blushing, ushers on 
The fast advancing footsteps of the dawn. 
That quickly mount the azure dome on 

high, 
And with the glory of the earth doth vie; 
Her glowing tints, the dew besprinkled 

lawn. 
Bright sparkles in the rays of morning sun. 
And nature spreads her beauties to the eye, 
More lovely than the mimicry of art, 
While echoes clear the warbler's tuneful 

lay, 
A happiness so pure steals o'er the heart. 
And gives the soul-born fancies all full 

play, 
And joys ecstatic, to the soul impart, 
The sacred blisses of each heavenly ray. 



58 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

SONNET, THE STORM. 

The pealing thunder voices of the cloud, 
The tempest wildly roaring in its might, 
The forked lightning's firery wreaths of 

light. 
That pierce the dreary, misty, vapory 

shroud, 
And strikes the towering mountain hoary 

browed. 
Or hurling onward in its speedy flight, 
The lofty forest trees with deadly blight 
It bursts upon, and with its crashing loud 
Severs in twain. The seething torrents 

roar 
Adown the sloping courses of the streams. 
As down upon the land the wild rains pour, 
To bring another deluge it doth seem. 
All, all, bespeak the great Creator's store. 
And power that reigns eternal and su- 
preme. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 59 

SUNSET. 

When the golden of sunset emblazons the 

west, 
And nature is sinking once more to her 

rest; 
When the footsteps of Night are fast 

pressing the day, 
And the bright starry host spread their 

twinkling array — 
How sweet to look back, o'er the day that 

has passed, 
Where no shade of dishonor or wrong can 

be cast, 
As we hie to our rest with the day's dying 

light 
In peace we can welcome the coming of 

night, 
When the last rays of sunset emblazon 

our sky, 
As we unto death's chilling Jordan draw 

nigh; 
When down sinks the night of that long 

dreamless sleep, 



60 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

And the chill dreary surges around us 

doth sweep, 
How sweet to look back o'er a life nobly 

spent, 
Whose actions with heaven-born virtues 

were blent; 
With unfaltering trust, as we bid earth 

farewell, 
In peace we can say, all is well, all is well. 



BRIGHTLY SHINES THE LIGHT 
OF MORN'. 

Brightly shines the light of morn', 

O'er the landscape green; 
All the vernal hills adorn, 

And the vales between 
Flowery fields stretch far and near. 

Decked in vernal pride; 
Richly teeming, fresh and fair, 

Is the landscape wide. 
Bright Aurora, fair and sweet, 

Ushers in the day; 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 61 

With a smile the soul doth greet, 

Drives the night away; 
Brings the glory of the sun 

Sweetly to illume; 
Flowers opening one by one 

Shed their mild perfume. 
Woodland warblers gaily sing, 

Every heart to please; 
Flitting 'round on gladsome wing, 

'Mong the leafy trees; 
How the pulses bound and thrill, 

Happiness sublime; 
All our hearts with joy doth fill. 

Lovely summer time. 



ILLINOIS. 



Let others sing of foreign climes. 
Where tropic flowers blow, 

Of plains of everlasting green, 

Or mountains crowned with snow; 

Be mine to sing a grander clime, 



()2 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

Columbia's pride and joy, 
The home of loyal freemen, 
Our own dear Illinois. 

Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! 

Our state so great and grand, 
Oh cheer for glorious Illinois, 

The pride of Freedom's land; 
Our state we love, her praises sing. 

Till they echo from shore to shore, 
Our Illinois forever. 

Forever and evermore. 

Her stately groves so grand and tall, 

Arrayed in vernal pride. 
Her fertile fields and flowery meads. 

Extending far and wide; 
In richness and in beauty prove, 

A clime of truest worth. 
The best of Nature's yielding, 

The garden of the earth. 

Upon the folds of Freedom's flag, 
We see her gleaming star, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 63 

That purest shines in time of peace, 
That brightest shines in war, 

Kesplendently a beacon grand, 
With purest ray sublime, 

It shines in golden splendor, 
Adown the line of time. 



CLOUDLAND. 

Grandly it rises, extending 

Unto the far horizon, 

Where hangs night's purple curtain. 

White rifted clouds float high, 

Like mountains snowy crowned 

And robed in daylight's dying tints. 

While on their vapory sides 

Stand our huge airy castles. 

Like palaces of phantom structure. 

They wavering rise and fall, 

A moving phantom landscape. 

While glance between in beauty 

Bright glimpses of the azure sky; 

Like fair cerulean lakes 

Among vast mountain ranges, 



64 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

That rise and waver, fall and melt, 

And form again in other scenes 

Of phantasy, new mountains, 

Valleys, lakes and palaces, 

As fair, as grand, as beautiful, 

As visionary view of fairyland. 

While distance makes 

Them grander seem, and to 

Each scene an added beauty gives. 

Now wafts the western wind, and huge 

Airy mountains topple each 

O'er each like falling towers 

In earthquake shudderings. 

Agam, they seem like icebergs 

On the blue of polar seas, 

So grandly do they float, 

And meet, and part again, 

And drift away upon the tides of air. 

And so they form, and break, 

And drift, and change in beauty, 

Till night spreads wide her pall, 

And hides their forms phantastic 

In somber robes of darkness. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 65 

WHEN CHILDHOOD SLUMBERS. 

When childhood slumbers, calm and sweet, 
Who knows what peaceful visions greet? 
Whatever it sees in happy dreams, 
As mild as starlight's mellow beams, 
Whate'er on bright and snowy wings, 
Each passing moment sweetly brings. 
When childhood slumbers, sweet repose, 
What peaceful visions greet, who knows? 

When childhood slumbers, angels smile, 
Upon its sweet repose the while, 
And oft it moves, as if it heard 
In dream some angel-whispered word; 
Or sweeter still, by angel tongue. 
The sweetest heavenly music sung. 
When childhood slumbers, angels stand 
And guard the shores of Slumber land. 

When childhood slumbers, angels tread 
With noiseless footsteps round its bed, 
And to sweet innocence so fair. 
Give their most tender, watchful care, 



66 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YQE. 

With sleepless eye and snowy arm, 
Guard its repose from fear or harm. 
When childhood slumbers, calm and deep, 
The angels strictest vigil keep. 



THE SKY-LARK. 
I hear a sky-lark's warbled notes 

In the blue sky above, 
Gently to me the music floats, 

Like a sweet song of love; 
Beyond my sight, on gladsome wing. 
He gaily soars, I hear him sing, 
And sweet his song the soft winds bring. 

My wayward heart to move. 

He shakes the dew from off his breast. 

Ere morn has scarce begun, 
And high in air, in merry haste, 

He greets the rising sun; 
His nest, amid the wildwood bowers, 
Lies deftly hid 'neath bending flowers. 
Where gently falls the dewy showers. 

Where scarce the sunbeams run. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 67 

Oh! happy, happy is his state, 

Within the leafy wood. 
Where he and his sweet, modest mate 

Doth rear their tender brood. 
Each passing day their joys increase, 
There no rough hand doth mar their peace. 
Or cause their happiness to cease. 

By actions harsh and rude. 

But when the chilly days draw nigh, 

Ere wintry blasts have come. 
Unto a distant clime they hie, 

'Mong tropic bowers to roam. 
But when stern winter's storms are past. 
And far away each chilling blast, 
Here, here again their lot they'll cast, 

With us they'll make their home. 



THE WAYS OF MEN. 
How, sometimes, men abuse the strength 

Gained by their cunning or their skill. 
Press heedless on and prove at length 

A soul more vile than fiends of hell; 



68 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

The stronger minds oppress the weak, 
And gloat in glee upon each deed, 

The haughty trample on the weak, 
Nor heed the hearts that sorely bleed. 

How many lives are thrown away 

In vain attempts, that might have been 
A shining light, fair as the day, 

Had they but spurned the thought to win 
The things of earth at any price, 

Oppressed the hearts of trust sincere. 
Had they but shunned the paths of vice. 

And labored in a nobler sphere. 

Far better toil with thy right hand, 

And face each stormy blast that comes. 
Than build a fortune great and grand 

On broken hearts and ruined homes; 
It is by far a greater thing 

To be a man by manhood's plan, 
Than be the puppet of a king, 

By such be called a gentleman. 

Be thou not in the plotter's hands, 
As beasts of burden, bought and sold, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 69 
Nor as clay in the potter's hand, 

As plastic to their shaping mould; 
Place not thy soul in jeopardy, 

For fleeting things that time doth give, 
For thou dost make eternity 

The little while on earth ye live. 

Of leaders born, the world hath few 

That rise their higher selves to prove, 
But there are many, noble, true, 

That 'mong the throngs of earth doth 
move; 
Pure, noble souls we often find. 

To others lend a helping hand, 
Who toil for good of human kind — 

Though lowly, they are great and grand. 

Do thou but kindly lend thine aid 

To bear a fainting brother's load. 
In climbing up the weary grade, 

Along life's rough and rugged road; 
Then when the evening breezes kiss 

Thy temples 'neath life's fading rays, 
Then canst thou say, in happiness, 

Life's final day is king of days. 



70 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 



WERE SUCH A VOICE TO MORTALS 
GIVEN. 

Were such a voice to mortals given 

As the voice of Israfel, 
Who leads the angel choir of heaven. 

Who sings so grand and well, 
This world would sound with music sweet, 

So lovely, grand and fair, 
That when the songs our ears would greet 

None would for heaven care. 

Were amaranthine flowers to bloom, 

As bloom on that fair shore, 
And sweetly shed their mild perfume, 

As Eden's bowers of yore. 
This world would all of heaven be 

That man would care to know. 
And he, for all eternity, 

Would choose this world below. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 71 

TO A THORN TREE. 
Alone thou standest, rugged thorn, 
No flowers doth thy boughs adorn, 
No birds among thy branches sing, 
No nests among thy branches swing. 
And in the shadow thou dost cast, 
No one, though fool, would pause to rest; 
Thou standest in thy place alone, 
Shunned with contempt, admired by none. 
How like art thou, by nature's plan, 
To base and surly-natured man, 
How like thy gnarled and thorny bole 
Unto the vile, repulsive soul; 
No good to show, but stand as they, 
Unloved, unwelcome, in the way; 
Where thou dost stand, though stony earth. 
Than thee by far has greater worth. 



NOVEMBER. 

Clad in her russet robes she comes, 

Her cloak with gold and red tints bor- 
dered. 
Bedecked in summer's ripened plumes, 



72 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Her garb by Mother Nature ordered; 
With all her happy, busy train, 

And fair the sky that bends above her, 
No fault 1 find, to try is vain. 

So fair she comes, who could not love 
her? 

With all her happy, joyous throng, 

With all their merry, busy humming, 
With work and play, and shout and song, 

I think her ways are fair, becoming. 
So through the happy, livelong year. 

Oh! happy, joyous heart remember, 
A word of love and song of cheer. 

To keep for smiling, sweet November. 



LIFE'S GLOOMY WAY. 

As I sit musing on the receding past, 
A shadowy form before me glides, and 
dark. 
Its shades around and o'er me that are 
cast, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 73 

Doth make my life a wintry day, and 
stark, 
The stern realities of life appear. 
That doth my inmost aspirations sere. 

My thoughts doth linger o'er the days 
gone by, 
And ponder o'er the present dreary 
cloud, 
On various themes, that never can belie. 
Dark hangs the future's gloomy, misty 
shroud. 
I shudder yet to think what might have 

been. 
Or what will be that still remains unseen. 

But come what will, though, I must act 
my part. 
Life's rugged road to tread, and onward 
press. 
Until the nerveless form and silent heart 
Bespeak my life work done, and I shall 
pass 



74 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Where care and sorrow never more can 

come 
To, in their horrid forms, assail the tomb. 



WE ARE TRAVELING TOWARD 
THE WEST. 

We are traveling toward the west, 

Toward the clime of setting sun, 
Never time to pause and rest, 

For the race it must be run; 
Every one must have their share 

Of life's triumphs and defeats. 
And alike we all must fare 

On life's bitters and its sweets. 

We are traveling toward the west, 

Toward the restland of the soul. 
Toward the mansions of the blest, 

Where no clouds doth ever roll; 
Bright and fair forevermore, 

Where in splendor shines the sun, 
There to dwell on that fair shore, 

When life's pilgrimage is done. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 75 

RECALLED. 
By fever racked, upon her cot she lay, 
A christian girl, so haggard, frail and worn, 
And white as the soft draperies of her couch 
The pallid cheeks and brow, that late had 

flushed 
With fair and rosy bloom of youth and 

health. 
Far, far away, yes, many miles away, 
At dear old home, awaited loving hearts 
For messages that came not, nor knew they 
The peril of the one they loved so well; 
But gentle hands, with kindest ministering, 
Each want and need attended, and true 

hearts, 
True, tender, loving, pitying hearts were 

there. 
Hoping, although each weary hope seemed 

vain. 
True hearts, from whence rose many an 

earnest prayer, 
That pale and trembling lips could scarcely 

speak. 



76 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

'Twas eventide, the twinkling stars in all 
Their pale and misty beauty downward 

shone, 
Alike o'er that far home where loved ones 

waited, 
And where her spirit hovered on the shore 
Of death's dark, dreary, gloomy, chilling 

tide. 
Beside her cot an old physician stood. 
And nurses, silent, waiting with sad hearts 
Each tender task with kindness to perform. 
At last, the good old man, with aching 

heart, 
And tear-dimmed eyes, and trembling lips, 
And faltering and husky voice, spake low 
In whispered words, scarce audible, and 

said: 
'Tve hoped in vain, alas! my work is done, 
I've tried my best to save, but I give o'er, 
A higher power than power of man must 

save; 
A higher power can save, and that alone. 
I now must leave her in the hands of Him 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 77 

Whose will is just, who doeth all things 
well." 

Then, turning to the nurse, he whispering 
said: 

"Stay you here by her, but disturb her not, 

She cannot live till morn, unless the hand 

Of Providence is lended to her aid; 

Ere rays of morn illume the eastern sky, 

She will have crossed the vale, or by a 
hand, 

More skilled than hand of man, will res- 
cued be." 

Then murmuring a prayer, with heavy 
heart. 

He left the hall he deemed the hall of 
death. 

The nurse beside the sufferer's bedside 

watched. 
And prayed, and many an earnest prayer 

arose 
From many hearts unto the great white 

throne. 



78 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

For her whose goodness merited their love. 
The moments passed as hours, the languid 

hours 
Slow winged their weary flight; at last she 

slept; 
But not the restless sleep of fevered brain, 
But sweet and quiet, peaceful, calm repose ; 
Low burned the smoldering embers on the 

hearth. 
Slowly the wave of life heaved to and fro. 
But calm those slumbers, as if an angel's 

lips 
Pressed that white brow, as if an angel's 

hands 
Held Death in thrall, and as she slept she 

dreamed. 

Her slumbers o'er at last, she woke, her 

face 
Wreathed with a smile as calm, as sweet, 

as pure 
As smile of morn upon the opening flowers. 
As morning's smile of glory and God's love. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 79 

With quickening pulse and thrilling heart, 

the nurse 
Bent o'er her cot and pressed a kiss upon 
That brow so pale and white, while from 

her heart. 
Now filled with hope and joy, arose a 

prayer 
Of thankfulness to Him who reigns above. 
The days passed slowly by, nor e'en a word 
Had passed the weary sufferer's lips, but 

strength 
Came slowly, slowly back again, and voice 
Returned again unto those pale, pale lips. 
And then, in accents sweet and low, was 

told 
The story of that dream and rescue from 
Dark Jordan's chilling, dismal, gloomy 

tide: 

I dreamed I trod the vale of shadows dark, 
Down, down, far down a long and narrow 

way. 
Until at last I reached the margin of 



80 FOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

A great and broad and silent flowing 

stream; 
Within that stream an island rose, and 

bright 
Enrobed in flowers, in bowers of beauty 

fair, 
More fair than e'er by mortal eye beheld 
But yet, alas! howshortof life they seemed. 
Arose as if by magic, bloomed and fell 
All withered, dead and crisped to the 

ground. 
And others in as wild profusion in 

Their stead arose, and bloomed, and fell 

as they, 
In quick succession budded, bloomed and 

died, 
A panorama, beautiful and bright. 

And then I gazed upon the stream beyond 
The fair, enchanted isle; the waters shone 
With bright and sacred, holy light, as 
grand 



POEMS OF ADELBBRT LEE YOE. 81 

As God's pure smile upon a crystal sea. 
But 'tween the shore whereon I stood, 

and that 
Fair isle of beauty, dark, so dark and chill, 
The silent, dismal, gloomy tide did flow, 
Dark as the drapings of a funeral pall. 
And cold and chill as the embrace of 

death, 
But narrow did it seem to me, that I 
Could cross its bounds with but a single 

step. 

Sustained by an unwavering trust, at last 
I nearer drew unto the stream, and thought 
To cross to that enchanted isle so fair; 
But as I reached the water's edge the 

stream 
Grew wider, and more gloomy, dark and 

chill. 
And as I stepped into the dismal tide, 
I sank down deep into the waters dark, 
And o'er me came a sorrow great and 

deep. 



82 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 
As though the weight of worlds fell o'er 

my soul, 
As shuddering I saw with spirit eye, 
The awful horrors of that deep abyss, 
And with a spirit love, I sorrowing cried, 
Oh, can it be, that hope forevermore 
Is banished from the souls who sink 

therin, 
And they are lost, lost, lost, forever lost. 

And then I turned my eyes to look once 

more, 
Back to the shore from whence I just had 

come, 
When Oh, what sacred joy my spirit 

thrilled, 
For there, there by my side, in all His 

pure 
And heavenly beauty, I beheld, fair as 
The morning star, the Lamb of Calvary; 
My Savior and my guide, and the sweet 

smile 
He gave me, filled my soul with peace 

and joy, 



POEMS OF ADELBBRT LEE YOE. 83 

As calm and pure as holy angels know, 
And then unto my soul He said, "Fear not, 
Though dark and chill the gloomy tide 

doth roll; 
Lo, I am with the, I will be thy aid, 
I will not leave thee, I will guide thee 

still." 
Then down into the waters cold and dark, 
We went together 'neath the swelling tide. 
He led me on, the waters o'er us rolled. 
But on we went, far out beyond the isle. 
On through the waters deep, until at last 
We reached the center of the stream, and 

rose 
Unto the surface of the tide, and grand 
The crystal waters shone, full, bright and 

fair 
As heaven's golden glory, sacred, pure. 
And on the distant shore I saw a light 
So wierd and fascinating, bright and 

grand; 
More brilliant than was e'er the noonday 

sun. 



84 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

More beautiful than e'er was smile of 

morn. 
And all the glories of that golden strand 
From that sfrand beacon li^ht did emanate. 



We paused awhile, I gazed with wonder- 
ing eyes, 
And heart with joy o'erflowing. Oh, how 

grand 
The sight, so beautiful, so sacred, pure. 
Enraptured with the scene, at last I cried, 
**Oh, let us onward press to yon bright 

shore; 
My soul is weary with the things of time, 
My spirit longs to rove yon Godlit strand, 
To enter at the gate so beautiful, 
To dwell in peace and joy forevermore 
In that grand, sacred home, God's Paradise. 

And then my guide made answer, "Nay, 

not yet, 
Turn thou, oh spirit, do thou turn and see 
A task I give," and turning, I beheld 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 85 

Upon the shores of time vast multitudes, 
The sin-cursed, soul-blind multitudes of 

earth 
That wandering down unto the river's 

brink, 
And onward pressing, eagerly to pluck 
The flowers that grew on that enchanted 

isle, 
Plunge headlong 'neath the dark and 

gloomy wave 
To rise no more; they vanished one by 

one, 
Down, down, down deep into the dark 

abyss. 

And as I gazed upon that scene I saw 
How things of time allure the souls of 

men, 
The greed of mammon, pleasures born 

of sin, 
The love of praise, and honors of the world. 
How list to siren songs, and fix their gaze 
On phantoms fair and luring to the soul 



86 POEMS OF ADELBBRT LEE YOE. 

In love with sin and self, and follow on 
Until at last, o'er ruin's awful brink 
They plunge and sink, lost, lost, forever 
lost. 

Oh, how my heart bled, how my spirit 

groaned, 
Oh, how I longed to point them to the 

way 
That leads from that dark realm of death 

and night 
To joy, and peace, and everlasting life. 
Then spake my guide unto me, "Spirit 

thou, 
Return, save, save them, there is mercy 

still." 
Then by my hand He led me back unto 
The shore from whence I came, then from 

my sight 
Did as a phantom vanish, and then I 
From my deep slumber and my dream 

awoke. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 87 

Crowned with the calm of a spirit of light, 
She stands on that height by the many 

untrod, 
Arrayed in Truth's armor, pure, spotless 

and white, 
She dwells in the sweet, gracious smile of 

her God; 
With heart filled with God-love for sin- 
burdened souls, 
To souls trending downward to regions of 

night, 
Points the way far beyond, where the dark 

river rolls, 
To the city of God, to the mansions of 

light. 



IN GOD'S ACRE. 

Wave, wave, ye green bending willows, 
In calm, quiet peacefulness wave, 

Drooping low down o'er death's pillows, 
Where the dew-drops fall on the grave. 
Where nature's tears fall on the grave. 



88 FOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE lOE. 

Bloom, bloom, ye sweet, fragrant flowers. 
In the fair, smiling springtime bloom. 

Refreshened by sunshine and showers, 
Make brighter each low, silent tomb, 
In beauty adorn each low tomb. 

Shine, shine, thou day star in splendor, 
Here low lieth forms that may shine 

In beauty so grand, pure and tender, 
Retouched by God's glory divine, 
In heaven's own glory divine. 

Sing, sing, ye warblers in sweetness. 
The forms that rest here loved thy song. 

That sharing in heaven's completeness, 
Shall join the grand chorus so strong. 
Shall swell the grand anthem so strong. 



JEWELS. 

In sorrow's stream are precious pearls 
That we may gather if we try, 

Though many are the falls and whirls, 
Where deep the hidden treasures lie. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 89 

All of the flood of woes and cares 

Is given by a power divine, 
So sorrow's bitter, gushing tears 

May still as brightest jewels shine. 

Yes, sorrow's tears shed here in gloom, 
May still each prove a priceless gem, 

And in a grander, statelier home, 
May grace an angel's diadem. 



QUIETUDE. 
Lost in the stillness. 
Lost in the quietude, 
Silent I roam; 
Rapt in my dreaming, 
Rapt in my reverie. 
Heedless I roam. 

Quiet of eventide, 
Hush of the twilight. 
Stars glimmering fair, 
Mild the moon beaming, 
O'er the calm woodland. 
Drives away cire. 



90 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Fair are the beauties 
Of the green woodland, 
When, in the morning light, 
Sweet music trilling, 
Grandly doth echo. 
Clear in the dawning light. 

But in the twilight. 
Comes the sweet silence. 
Gentle and calm; 
Rests the soul weary, 
Soothes the tired spirit 
Like a sweet balm. 

Calm of the solitude, 
Sweet is thy peacfulness. 
Sacred and blest; 
Quiet of eventide, 
Hush of the twilight 
Sweet is thy rest. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 91 

ROBERT BURNS. 
As long as the waters of Afton shall flow, 
As long as the trees on the Nith's banks 

shall grow, 
As long as the Devon, her crystal tide 

pours, 
As long as the Ayr loves her murmuring 

shores, 
So long, all over the world shall be heard, 
The soul-thrilling songs of Scotland's 

great bard. 

A soul 'mongst earth's greatest, though 

lowly of birth, 
Though poor of earth's riches, was great 

of his worth; 
The pride of his country, the glory of 

song, 
Enchanted, enraptured the nation's great 

throng, 
And gave him forever a home in the heart 
Where love reigns supreme, or affliction 

doth smart. 



9Z POEMS OF ADBLBEKT LEE YOB. 

From life 'mong the poor, his sweet pic- 
tures were drawn, 

For life 'mong the lowly was ever his 
own; 

He loved the poor, down-trodden, labor- 
ing wight, 

Around harsh brown labor shed a pure, 
sacred light. 

That light, brightly shining, forever shall 
throw 

Its sweet rays alike around pleasure and 
woe. 

The woes of his people he willingly 

shared, 
His breast unto life's fiercest storms 

bravely bared, 
Through sunshine and shadow; through 

pleasure or pain, 
Forever so sweet rang the grand, noble 

strain; 
Though often in sorrow his noble heart 

bled, 
The grand light of glory around him was 

shed. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 93 

Oh, sweet soul of song, grand thy num- 
bers doth ring, 

The sweetest of life's joys and and pleas- 
ures doth bring; 

Though the proud, or the prude, point the 
finger of scorn. 

And scoff at thee, whom the bright laurels 
adorn, 

Yet, so noble the songs to the world thou 
didst give. 

Thy name, bright in glory forever shall 
live. 



THE OLD TRAMP'S STORY. 

It isn't a story, stranger, 

Perhaps that will interest you, 

But it keeps me always a thinking, 

And makes me so awfully blue 

When I look away back to the long ago 

As old time goes a racing past, 

And think of bad luck that comes on men, 

Like the touch of hell's hot blast. 



94 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

It was years ago, I was happy then, 
'Twas the brightest days of my life, 
With two little girls so fair and sweet 
And a faithful and loving wife, 
In a little home, though a rented one, 
In a garden so nice and green, 
A little cot, as white as the snow, 
A dearer I've never seen. 

But the river of lie isn't always smooth, 

And we often get hard knocks, 

And oft like boats of the stoutest build, 

Get smashed and wrecked on the rocks; 

So one night out of the west the clouds 

Rolled out, each a giant form, 

And the angel of death passed by that 

night 
On the raving wings of the storm. 

The storm raved wild as a demon mad, 

And dark was the sky overhead; 

And when 'twas passed, all its path was a 

wreck. 
And wife and one child was dead; 



POEMS OF ADBLBERT LEE YOB. 9^5 

And all that was left of our little home, 
The home that we loved so well, 
In the deepest gloom of that midnight 
hour 

Was me and my little Nell. 

I buried my dead in the churchyard green 

And went to work like a man; 

For three long years I struggled and strove 

By manhood's most honest plan, 

And then got a home to call my own, 

From debts and everything free. 

And there my Nell grew to womanhood, 

And none were more happy than we. 

And Nell was the prettiest girl in town. 

So jolly, lighthearted and true, 

With friends wherever she chanced to go, 

And lovers, well not a few, 

For all thought Nell as sweet a girl 

As ever set foot on the green, 

At picnics and parties, and everywhere, 

Why, she was always the queen. 



96 POEMS OF ADBLBBRT LEE YOB. 

But none of her lovers suited Nell, 
Though we none of riches could claim, 
But she liked to be praised, as most g^irls 

do, 
And there's where the trouble came. 
The lads around home were all too plain. 
But first rate young fellows, none bad, 
But one day a city chap coming along. 
Turned all the girls' heads like mad. 

And being as Nell was the prettiest one 

Of all the girls in town, 

Not one of them stood the ghost of a 

show, 
A rival like her to down, 
The cuss stepped high, and dressed in 

style 
And cut quite a dandy-like swell, 
I never fancied the looks of him much, 
But had faith in the honor of Nell. 

But people are human, and women are 

w^ak 
And often care too much for style, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE 97 

And never once think the souls of men 
Can harbor a thing like guile; 
So Nell with a heart of love and trust, 
Loved that ruthless wretch and fell, 
A ruined life and a blighted soul, 
That blighted our home as well. 

Betrayed and left by that hellish whelp, 

She, once the belle of the place; 

Then her friends turned away and left her 

alone 
To the shame of her deep disgrace, 
But what all she thought, none will ever 

know, 
For she long from her shame has passed; 
A faithless love had blighted her life, 
A cup of poison the rest. 

I buried her, too, in the old churchyard. 

Away back at the farthest side, 

For I couldn't lay her by the others I 

loved, 
For she was a suicide. 



98 rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Then I sold my home, and have wandered 

since, 
Away from my old home place, 
All over the land, for I couldn't stay 
Around the scene of my child's disgrace. 

I'm getting old and am shaky too, 

But still I can make my way. 

And I hope that I yet may chance 

To get my revenge some day. 

For if I ever meet that infernal wretch, 

I know that it is rough to tell, 

I'll cram his carcass so full of lead. 

It will sink him to the bottom of hell. 



THE EAGLE AND THE SNAKE. 
A hungry eagle, wide awake. 

With hunger growing thinner, 
Swooped down upon a big blacksnake 

To make of him a dinner. 
He caught him in his hooked claws 

And soared off through the air. 
*T'll stop this, "hissed the snake, "because 

I think it's not quite fair." 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 99 

I think I have as ^ood a right 

To live as any eagle. 
His eyes were gleaming for a fight 

As he began to wriggle 
And squirm, to get his long lank form 

Around the eagle's neck, 
And hissed, ''When blown out in this 
storm, 

I'll leave this chap a wreck." 

So when he got his favorite grip. 

He drew it good and tight, 
So good a hold it wouldn't slip, 

And ended soon the fight; 
A battle 'twas of life or death, 

A struggle fierce, 'tis said, 
But soon was stopped the eagle's breath 

And down he tumbled, dead. 

How often 'tis we meet with men, 
As through the world we go, 

Who yield to baser influence when 
'Tis better to say no, 

And never see their dire mistake 
I - -^ 

L.. J5 V/, 



100 rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

'Till it's alas, too late, 
And like the eagle with the snake, 
Meet a disgraceful fate. 



BEAUTIFUL SUNSET LAND. 
Far, far away in the land of the west, 

Where the day and night clasp hands, 
Where the clouds in robes of roses are 
drest, 

Interlaced with golden bands, 
The evening star the threshold guards, 

A sentinel brilliant and grand, 
Joy, peace and rest are the soul's rewards 

In the beautiful Sunset Land. 

The crescent moon far above the clouds 

Floats shining in splendor bright. 
And the twinkling stars in beauty shrouds 

All the land in mellow light; 
Tall, waving groves of fadeless palm 

On the evergreen margin stand, 
Bespeak the holy peace and calm 

Of the beautiful Sunset Land. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 101 

Far beyond the shifting scenes of change, 

And the passing things of time 
The hills of verdure range on range, 

And verdant plains sublime 
Extend as far as eye can see, 

A paradise stately and grand, 
Where happy souls in peace roam free 

In the beautiful Sunset Land, 



THE WAIL OF A LOST SOUL. 
Sad heart, sad heart, repining heart, 

Heart deep stung by remorse, 
'Tis thee affection's venomed dart 

Strikes with a tenfold force. 

A lost, a lost, a lost, lost soul, 

Wrecked for eternity. 
The surging billows widely roll, 

Mock my calamity. 

I've strayed 'mong gilded haunts of vice, 
The young and gay were there, 

But now I pay the onerous price 
And sink to dark despair. 



102 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

I reveled long in Pleasure's halls, 
Nor looked beyond the tomb, 

Each vivid scene my mind recalls 
But darker makes my doom. 

Could I again to mother's breast 
Be clasped by loving arms, 

'Twould give my soul a blissful rest, 
Give death a thousand charms. 

Life's voyage now will soon be o'er, 
I soon shall reach the stand, 

My bark upon the nightly shore 
A shattered wreck shall land. 

And I must die eternal death, 

I know it all full well, 
For with the parting of my breath 

My soul shall sink to hell. 

For I can see a yawning hell 

Before me in my path, 
The waves of torment higher swell, 

Rush onward in their wrath. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 103 

The light unto my eyes grows dim. 

My soul now sinks to hell; 
I feel the grasp of the monster grim, 

Farewell, for aye, farewell. 



THE BURNING BRAND. 

Low on the hearth the brand is burning, 
And my heart is cold and sere, 
Oh, naught can still the dreary yearning. 
And the gloomy night draws near; 
Low sinks the sun in the distant west, 
But the God above knows best, kno^' s 
best. 

Low on the hearth burn the dying embers. 
Nor scarce can I see a spark, 
Soon comes the night of dreamless slum- 
bers. 
And the way is dark, is dark, 
Low sinks the sun in the distant west, 
But the God above knows best, knows 
best. 



104 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

DYING LIGHT. 
There's a fading light in the distant west, 
And the soft winds whisper low, 
The billowy clouds hang fold on fold 
Like fleecy curtains of rose and gold, 
i\nd the soft winds whisper low, 
The hills are crowned with a halo bright, 
As the day star bids the world good night. 

There's a dying light in the distant west, 

And the soft winds whisper low, 

And over the woodland solitude 

A holy quiet doth seem to brood. 

And the soft winds whisper low; 

The moonlight gleaming o'er waters wide, 

Mirrors its rays in the crystal tide. 

There's a dying light in the distant west, 

And the soft winds whisper low, 

The stars shine bright as in nights of yore, 

Like golden gleams from a golden shore. 

And the soft winds whisper low, 

The air is balmy with fragrance sweet 

As the coming of night in peace we greet, 



POEMS OF ADELBBRT L/EE YOB. 1Q5 

THE NORTH WIND. 

Chill through the boughs of the leafless 
trees 

The north wind sighs and sighs, 
And to the moan of the passing breeze 

My heart in grief replies; 
The trees they mourn the summer gone, 
My heart, the joys of youth now flown, 

The flowers dead on the wintered ground 
Lay 'neath the glistening snow; 

Time onward rolls in its ceaseless round, 
And hearts that long ago 

Thrilled with the brightest hopes doth lay, 

Like them, 'neath wmter's snows to-day. 

But soon again will the balmy spring 
Blow mild her fragrant breath 

From sunnier climes, on zephyr's wing, 
And wake the flowers from death. 

And as they bloom when winter's o'er 

So shall the soul on a fairer shore. 

8 



106 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

THE MAN AND THE LION. 

FROM ^SOP. 

A man and a lion once argued together 
Which was of the noblest race; 

Long it was they disputed whether 
The man or lion should have the place. 

The man showed the lion a statue 
Of marble, worked grand and well, 

Of a man standing o'er a dead lion 
To show man's cunning and skill. 

"Ha! that proves nothing," the lion said, 

"Never did, and it never can. 
If a lion had been the sculptor 

The lion would be over the man." 



SEEDS OF KINDNESS. 
O'er life's broad acres sow kindness 

And the harvest will be love, 
*Twill flow from the hearts of God's crea- 
tures, 
Pure as the fountains above. 



POEMS OP ADELBERT LEE YOB. 107 

Fond memories will not perish, 
Of thy life's nobly acted part, 

And the souls of honor will cherish 
The truths of thy goodly heart. 

So scatter thou seeds of kindness, 
The blessings of life to bestow. 

And the flower of love in beauty 
And glowing splendor shall grow. 

And borne on the balmy breezes 
Wherever thy feet may stray, 

The breath of its balmy fragrance 
Will hover around thy way. 

Then sow over life's bioad acres, 
Seeds that will bless earth's gloom, 

And great will be thy treasures 

At the gathering the harvest home. 



GOD BLESS YOU. 
God bless you, easily 'tis said. 

And Oh, what joy it often gives. 
What aching hearts that long have bled 

it cheers, and in those hearts it lives. 



108 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. - 

God bless you, from an earnest heart, 
With hand-clasp tender, true and warm, 

What strength and peace it doth impart 
Among life's fiercest, darkest storms. 



SILVERY LOCKS AND GOLDEN 
TRESSES. 

Silvery locks and golden tresses 

Beneath the greenwood tree; 
Silvery locks and golden tresses 

Sitting upon her knee; 
Silvery locks is loving and happy, 

Gentle and kind always; 
Golden tresses is sweet and merry 

All the livelong day. 

Silvery locks and golden tresses, 

Silvery locks so white. 
Mild her gentle hand caresses 

Golden tresses so bright; 
Silvery locks with love so tender 

Sings sweet songs, low and mild, 
Lullabies to golden tresses, 

Songs she loved a child. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 109 

Silvery locks and golden tresses, 

Hand in hand among the flowers, 
Happily they stray together 

'Mong the garden's fairest bowers; 
Low the fading flowers bending, 

Types kind silvery locks so dear, 
Opening buds so sweet and tender, 

Fair as golden tresses appear. 

Silvery locks loves golden tresses, 

Every act and word doth tell; 
And sweet prattling golden tresses 

lioves dear silvery locks as well; 
Ripening grain and budding blossom, 

Heaven-born love so sweetly blesses, 
Nor purer love thrills angel bosoms 

Than silvery locks and golden tresses. 



THE PALACE OF THE KING. 
There's a clime of wondrous beauty, 

And the King of kings its light. 
And its glowing golden splendors 

Shine forever pure and bright; 



110 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB 

Far beyond this vale of sorrow, 
Where the choral anthems ring, 

On the Godlit heights of glory 
Stands the palace of the king. 

CHORUS. 

In the palace of the king, 
In the palace of the king, 
When the journey here is o'er, 
And we reach the golden shore, 
Grand will be the Savior's welcome. 
To the palace of the king. 

When the gloomy night of sorrow 

Shall forever fade away, 
And in glory breaks the dawning 

Of the happy, golden day. 
Then, Oh then, we'll hear the anthems 

That the seraph choir doth sing, 
As our spirits waft in triumph 

To the palace of the king. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. Ill 

Though the way seem long and dreary, 

Dark and chill the clouds of gloom, 
Still we know in yonder city, 

Fair and bright the flowers bloom, 
And the holy angels ever 

Strike their golden harps and sing 
Sacred music, halleluahs. 

In the palace of the king. 

When beyond this vale of shadows. 

When our pilgrimage is o'er, 
When we join the host immortal 

On that fair and happy shore; 
When the shining host of ransomed, 

To the throne their tributes bring, 
Grand will be the Savior's welcome 

To the palace of the king. 



112 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

SPRINGTIDE. 

Again I hear in bush and tree, 
Sweet sylvan music ringing free, 
And echoes with a joyous thrill, 
O'er forest, meadow, vale and hill, 
Songs of the wildwood minstrelsy. 

And deep in woodland, glen and nook, 
With many a whirl and flash and crook, 
O'er pebbles bright, o'er mossy stones, 
With sweetest music in its tones. 
Glides murmuring crystal rill and brook. 

In green retreats of woodland dells, 
'Tis nature's fairest beauties dwell; 
The streamlets gentle tones her words, 
Her songs of love the songs of birds, 
A grand and joyous paean swells. 

Awake, my muse, rejoice and sing, 
Fair are the days, sweet smiles the spring, 
And held in nature's outstretched arms. 
Are sprung to life a world of charms 
That nature's self alone can bring. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 113 

WHAT IS HEAVEN. 

Pray, what is heaven? I asked a child one 

day, 
A little child among the flowers at play; 
She quickly looked up at me, sweet and 

coy, 
And smilingly she said, "Why, heaven is 

joy." 

Pray, what is heaven? I asked a man one 

day, 
Whose steps were feeble, and whose locks 

were grey; 
He turned his gaze unto the distant west, 
And smilingly he said, "Why, heaven is 

rest." 

How true, how true, their answers, young 

and old, 
Their fair ideas of the streets of gold, 
A sacred clime, with joy forever blest, 
A golden city of eternal rest. 



114 POEMS OF ADBLBERT LEE YOE 

MOTHER. 

There is no name like mother 

The world has ever known; 
There is no voice like mother's, 

So mild and sweet of tone; 
There is no kiss like mother's, 

To banish childhood's tears; 
There is no love like mother's, 

To banish childhood's fears. 

There is no smile like mother's, 

The aching heart to bless; 
There is no hand like mother's 

With gentle, mild caress; 
There is no heart like mother's 

In all the world beside. 
No words of love like mother's, 

The wandering feet to guide. 

There is no grave like mother's 
When here her life is past. 

No spot on earth so sacred, 

No shrine more loved and blest 



POEMS OP ADBLBBRT LEE YOE 115 

Oh, there is none like mother, 
The heart's true love can claim, 

No cherished memories cluster 
Around a sweeter name. 



LINES TO A LITTLE FRIEND. 

The springtime bud, pure in the sunshine 

swells, 
A form of grace and loveliness foretells, 
Bursts on the sight, a fair and radiant 

bloom, 
And soothes the senses with its mild 

perfume. 

The budding soul, within the sacred light 
Of innocence, doth bloom divinely bright, 
Its sweets disclose and evermore may 

bless. 
And bright adorn the paths of happiness. 

As doth the bud, by the warm sunlight's 

power, 
Its form expand, become a radiant flower. 



116 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

So mayest thou, a pure and tender bud, 
Bright blossom into noble womanhood; 
Repay the care that watched thy early 

morn, 
And bright the rugged paths of life adorn. 

Be thou unto the world a shining light, 
Forever zealous in the cause of right, 
Nor fear that evil will thy steps betide, 
With heaven-born virtues ever as thy 
guide. 

Let truth and kindness with thy actions 

blend. 
And all the world will be to thee a friend. 
And when thou passeth to thy last, long 

sleep, 
Of thee some cherished memory will keep. 



GOLDEN LOCKS. 
Golden locks sweet round the doorstep 

is playing, 
Fair as the sunbeams that round her are 

straying; 



POEMS OF ADBLBERT LEE YOB. 117 

Bright little girl, none fairer than thee, 
Golden locks, happy and free. 

Golden locks, golden locks, sunny and 

bright. 
Fair are thy tresses as heaven's own light, 
Merry thy voice full of laughter and glee, 
Golden locks, happy and free. 

Golden locks, bright is thy life's early 

morning, 
Fair be the flowers thy pathway adorning; 
Bright little cherub, none fairer than thee. 
Golden locks, happy and free. 

Golden locks, thine is the purest of 

pleasure. 
Care free, light hearted, thine joy without 

measure. 
Pure as the dewdrop, none dearer than 

thee. 
Golden locks, happy and free. 



118 I 'OEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

EVENTIDE. 

The rosy, tinted clouds at evening float, 
Light as the gossamer across the sky, 
Reflecting bright the rays of setting sun. 
That throws a halo o'er the azure dome. 
The fast advancing footsteps of the night. 
Doth press the dying day, the twinkling 

stars 
Shine out, a many thousand host, and 

flood 
The firmament with pure and mellow 

beams. 

The falling dues the fragrant flowers 
caress, 

Imbue with life afresh, each tiny bloom 

Doth catch a drop and sweetly doth distil 

A nectar for the honey loving bee. 

The murmur in the v/ildwood doth be- 
speak 

A boundless happiness, and greets the 
soul 

In joy and peace, shows nature's handi- 
work, 

And ever proves a great Creator's love. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 119 

MORNING. 

There's a rosy haze in the eastern sky, 
And the summer breez ^ blows mild, 
The skylark trills his morning call, 
And the pearly dew-drops gently fall 
As the summer breeze blows mild; 
The white clouds float so light and free, 
Like far off sails on an azure sea. 

There's a golden glow in the eastern sky, 
And the summer breeze blows mild, 
The fields in vernal robes are drest, 
And light are the waves on the river's 

breast, 
As the summer breeze blows mild, 
Fair is the bright blue sky above, 
And nature's smile is a smile of love. 

There's a splendor bright in the eastern 

sky, 
And the summer breeze blows mild. 
In heavenly beauty, joy and pride, 



120 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Gleams o'er the landscape far and wide, 
As the summer breeze blows mild, 
And'proves with daylight's bright advance, 
The goodness of Omnipotence. 



THE ANGEL OF DEATH. 
Upon a calm and stilly night, 

The angel of death passed by, 
By many a home where warm and bright, 

None thought that death was nigh; 
He journeyed silent as the hour 

That passeth quickly on, 
Made bare his dreaded arm of power. 

For there was work to be done. 

He passed a throne whereon a king 

Sat high in regal state, 
Where, in the hands of such a thing, 

Depends a nation's fate; 
He gave one look and then passed on, 

His mission to perform. 
For cold was doomed ere rising sun, 

Some form with life then warm. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 121 

The aged man with hoary hair 

And tottering near the grave, 
The weary toiler, worn with care, 

The scarred and shackeled slave, 
The drunken sot with horrid mein 

And bleared and bloodshot eye, 
The worthless, faithless, wanton quean, 

All these he, too, passed by. 

But slumbering on its mother's arm 

Lay innocence at rest, 
With loving hands to shield from harm, 

By loving hands caressed. 
He hurled his viewless dart, alas! 

His direful work was done; 
One life from out this world did pass, 

The prize of death was won. 



TWILIGHT REVERIE. 

Gray twilight sinks down o'er the wood- 
land, 

The day fades away in the west, 
The quiet and calm of the evening 

Lulls the soul into sweet, balmy rest; 

9 



122 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

O'er the waters the bright moonbeams 
glisten 

As the crystal tide murmurs along, 
And to the sweet echos we listen, 

Repeating some evening song. 

And the eve brings us fond recollections 

Of days that are vanished and gone, 
And we still see the bright, golden sun- 
beams 

That hovered o'er life's early dawn; 
Fond pictures of childhood and mother, 

As fair as the morn's rosy smile, 
And our lives seem again filled with sun- 
shine, 

Our sorrows and cares to beguile. 

Yes, sweet is the calm of the twilight, 

And mild are the soft, dewy showers, 
Peaceful the fair, beamy starlight, 

And sweet is the breath of the flowers, 
And dear unto hearts that are aching. 

The beauties of childhood recalls. 
In light pure, and sacred and glowing 

The pictures in memory's hall. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 123 

ZKRINTHA. 

As sweet her tones as summer breezes 

sighing, 
Among the bowers in the woodland tall, 
As mild as echo's gentle voice replying 
Unto the warbler's sweet melodious call. 

As fair her form as water nymph or fairy, 
That dance upon the dew bediamoned 

flowers, 
As sweet her smile, as tender, mild and 

cheery 
As golden sunlight after summer showers. 

As light her step as cloud-born shadows 
falling 

Upon the purling streamlets yielding 

breast. 
As gently as the rays of morning, calling 
The woodland singer from his covert nest. 

In happy homes, her temples fair enshrin- 
ing, 

She rears her altars mild with incense 
sweet. 



124 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

With snowy wreaths and garlands fair en- 
twining, 

She crowns her worshipers in bliss com- 
plete. 

Sweet soul of light, as sacred as the spirits 
That sing around the shining throne above. 
Herself a child of heaven, so true inherits 
Her matchless beauty and the name of 
love. 

LH^E. 

Each life is a history, 

From childhood to age, 
Each year is a chapter. 

Each month is a page, 
Each day is a sentence, 

Each hour is a word, 
Each moment a letter. 

So let all be heard 
In tones pure and simple and true. 

So clear, and so well understood 
That all that is said of thy life 

Will be a grand story for good. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 125 

THE WOODlvAND. 

Out to the woodland I will p"o, 



fc." 



Out where the heart with joys o'erflow, 
Joy for the songs the warblers sing, 
Joy that the fragrant flowers bring; 
Out to the woodland, calm and sweet, 
Out to the woodland's green retreat, 
Out to the woodland I will go, 
Out where the heart with joys o'erflow. 

Out to the woodland I will go. 

Out where the mildest breezes blow. 

Out where the coolest shadows fall, 

Out where the wild birds sweetest call, 

Out where the smile of nature bright 

Thrills the soul with pure delight; 

Out to the woodland I will go. 

Out where the mildest breezes blow. 

Out to the woodland I will go, 
Out in the summer's golden glow. 
Out where the trees in vernal pride, 
Mirrored lie the crystal tide; 



126 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Out where the fairest flowers bloom, 
Ladening the air with a sweet perfume, 
Out to the woodland I will go, 
Out in the summer's golden glow. 



THE IRISH WANDERER. 

When memory turns to Erin's Isle, 

My soul with rapture thrills. 
The glories of the sun's bright smile. 

That crowns the eastern hills. 
Again I see so bright and fair, 

So grand and pure the while, 
And breathe again the balmy air 

Of far off Erin's Isle. 

CHORUS. 

To Erin's Isle, dear Erin's Isle, 
My memory turns for aye, 
To Erin's Isle my memory turns, 
And shall until I die. 



rOEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 127 

Bright, like a jewel in the sea, 

Dear Erin shines full fair, 
The dearest spot on earth to me, 

My every thought and care; 
The home of valor, truth and love, 

So pure, so free from guile, 
Fair as the stars that shine above, 

My home, dear Erin's Isle. 

The verdant hills that sloping rise, 

The emerald vales between, 
Arise before my vision eyes 

In robes of living green; 
My childhood home, sweet inland gem, 

'Neath heaven's golden smile, 
Nor shall I, till death's flood I stem, 

Forget dear Erin's Isle. 



128 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

AT TWILIGHT. 

I am sitting alone in the twilight, 

Looking out in the distant west, 

The sky with the last rays of sunset, 

In bright tints of golden is drest, 

And I think, what a fair, blissful ending 

Is closing the dark, dreary day, 

y\nd bless the sweet, mild austral breezes, 

That banish the dark clouds away. 

I am sitting alone in life's twilight, 
Full brightly the western sky glows. 
The clouds that long shadowed life's path- 
way 
Are all turned to golden and rose; 
And the mild zephyrs waft sweetest fra- 
grance. 
That thrills me with purest delight. 
With heart filled with hope, peace and 

pleasure, 
I welcome the coming of night. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 129 

'TIS NOT OF DAYS. OR MONTHS, 
OR YEARS. 

'Tis not of days, or months, or years, 

That live^ are truly made, 
For days, and months, and years doth pass 
As sands roll through the hour-glass, 

As flowers bloom and fade. 

'Tis not by days, or months, or years, 

That names are truly won. 
For though we live to ripened age, 
No light doth shine upon life's page, 

Except by good deeds done. 

It is not days, or months, or years. 

That make life truly blest. 
But little deeds to souls in need, 
Kind, cheering words to hearts that bleed. 

Are joys for aye to last. 



130 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

WHEN SKIES ARE PURE 
CERULEAN. 

When skies are pure cerulean, 

And flowers are blooming fair, 
And wild birds' sweetest music 

Thrills on the morning air; 
When waking nature blushes, 

Fair in the sunny glow, 
How hearts with purest rapture 

Fill up and overflow. 
For who could see the morning break. 

And not be happy at the sight. 
When nature from her slumbers wake 

And floods the world with golden light. 

When skies are pure cerulean, 

And sunset clouds unfold 
Their brightest glowing colors 

Of purest red and gold; 
When nature farewell bidding 

Unto her slumber goes, 
Still, still the heart with rapture 

Fills up and overflows. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 131 

For who is there who could not see 
With joy the starry host of even, 

With mellow beam so mild and free, 
Shine out and light the arching heaven. 



CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY HOME. 
It is but a humble cottage 

Standing on the green hillside, 
Where the trees in summer breezes 

Wave their leafy boughs in pride; 
But a cottage meek and lowly, 

Standing now alone in gloom, 
But for aye in memory cherished. 

For 'twas childhood's happy home. 

CHORUS. 

Oh I the happy home of childhood, 

Of childhood, of childhood. 
Oh! the happy home of childhood so dear, 

Oh! how fondly memory treasures 

The scenes of joys and pleasures 
Of the happy home of childhood, 

Of childhood's home so dear. 



132 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

When the golden light of dawning 

O'er the eastei-n hilltops broke, 
And the twitting wildwood singers 

To their morning song awoke; 
Or when evening's blushing flowers 

Sweetly shed their mild perfume, 
How we loved that humble cottage, 

Childhood's dear and happy home. 

Though we dwell 'mid kingly splendors, 

Though we scale Fame's grandest height, 
Though we rove where fairest bowers 

Thrill the soul with pure delight; 
Still, from fairest scenes of pleasure, 

Wheresoe'er we chance to roam, 
Memory, on snowy pinions, 

Backward turns to childhood's home. 



BELLS OF TIME. 

Ring out, oh clanging bells of time, 
Ring out thy harsh, discordant chime, 
The storms of night rave wild around. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 133 

And mingle with thy wilder sound; 
The ghostly clouds before the blast, 
Like phantom forms, fly dark and fast, 
And wild the surging tides of air 
Thy tones, like demon voices, bear. 

Oh! bells of time, wild, clanging bells. 
Ring, ring your dirges, ring your knells 
Harsh, to the baleful, pealing tones, 
The fitful night wind groans and moans; 
Thy knelling nameless horrors bring, 
As wide thy loud alarms doth ring, 
So fierce and wild thy echoes swell, 
Like marshaling the hosts of hell. 

Oh! bells of time, oh! bells of time, 
How drear the soul doth hear thy chime, 
From morn of life, until the tomb 
Dark hides us in its nightly gloom; 
But soon the flight of years shall roll, 
And from the world shall pass the soul. 
Nor hear in some far distant clime 
No more the clanging bells of time. 

10 



134 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 



THE WAVE AND THE STAR. 

Upon the breast of a crystal stream, 

A tiny wave found birth, 
Far away in the sky the silvery gleam, 

Of a star shone down to earth; 
The wave caught up the silvery gleam, 

That sank upon its breast, 
And borne along the crystal stream. 

It sweetly sank to rest. 

Upon the earth a soul was born, 

To live for eternity. 
But God looked down upon its morn, 

And robed it in purity; 
Adown the stream of life it passed, 

Until its work was o'er. 
Then soared away to its home at last, 

Upon the heavenly shore. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE/ 135 

LIKE THE STRAIN OF SOME 
SWEET TUNE. 

Like the strain of some sweet tune, 

Played by unseen fingers, 
Memories of bygone days 

Fondly cherished linger. 

Time rolls on in ceaseless round, 

Still on snowy pinions, 
Memory backward wings her flight, 

To childhood's dominions. 

As we onward move and strive. 

And with toil are weary. 
Oh what joy to backward look, 

To those days so cheery. 

Though a host of cares press on, 

Dark and dismal legion, 
Still, the bright past cheers us on 

To a fairer region. 



136 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 
NIGHTSHADE. 

There is nightshade entwined 'mong the 
flowers, 

And the flowers are withered and sear, 
The leaves are all crisped and crumbling, 

And nothing but gloom doth appear. 
Yes, the bright glowing buds of promise. 

Are dying upon the stem. 
And wherever I chance to wander, 

My pathway lies strewn with them, 

There is nightshade entwined 'mong the 
roses, 

And hides their fair beauty from me, 
And stifles their sweet balmy fragrance, 

Once wafted so gentle and free; 
And nothing remains of their beauty, 

Scarce anything left save the thorns, 
That harrow and rankle my spirit, 

My soul that in deep sorrow mourns. 

There is nightshade entwined in life's gar- 
land, 
And nettles that basely doth cloy. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 137 

There is venom of asps in the tankard, 
That should be a pure cup of joy; 

And rugged and rough is life's pathway, 
Where fiercely the wild tempests blow, 

And drear as the valley of shadows, 
Where not e'en the starbeams glow. 

But no nightshade entwines 'mong the 
bowers 

That bloom on eternity's shore. 
That gleam in a beauty more sacred 

Than Eden's fair bowers of yore; 
And sweet as the pure smile of God's love. 

They shed forth the mildest perfume, 
Where seraph's grand anthems doth echo, 

O'er meads of perennial bloom. 



138 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 

CHILDHOOD'S HAPPY DAYS. 

Back to childhood's happy days 
Cherished memory often strays, 

And over 
All the past doth seem to hover; 
Care free were those days of bliss, 

Cloudless morning 

Bright adorning 
The sweet paths of happiness. 

Roving idle, free from toil, . 
Care and sorrow and turmoil, 

And distress, 
Pure enjoyment, nothing less; 
Now the clouds doth darkly roll, 

Threatening lower. 

Back I cower. 
Not a ray to e'er console. 

Happy, happy days of childhood. 
Straying 'mong the leafy wildwood, 

Thought doth cling 
Ever to life's balmy spring, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOB. 139 
Fast receding', flown forever, 

Onward going, 

Ever flowing, 
Down the course of Time's swift river. 



MEMORY'S HALL. 

In the mystical region of long ago, 

The flowers bloomed in enchanted 
bowers, 
And clear was the purling streamlet's flow. 

As the brightest gem of the dewy 
showers; 
Fair as the fairyland of dreams, 

Grand as the temple of morning light, 
Life's golden springtime beauties gleam, 

Like a beacon still from a far off height. 

Fair as the wings of a fairy queen, 
Visions of childhood gently come, 

Like starry gleams that glance between 
The clouds of fate to cheer life's gloom; 

Sti 1, soul can sing as downward falls 



140 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

The sable curtain of gloomy night, 
When cherished memory recalls 
Life's morning rays of golden light. 

When we backward look to life's fair morn, 

And the happy scenes of youth recall, 
How fair the pictures that bright adorn 

The festooned walls of Memory's hall; 
And we roam again where the sunlight falls 

And bask 'neath the shade of the vernal 
trees, 
And list the wildwood warbler's calls, 

Wafted afar on the balmy breeze. 

No fluted columns of marble white, 

No stately, towering, glittering dome, 
But, fair as gleams of heaven's light 

Beams mother's smile and childhood's 
home. 
And songs of youth, how sweet they ring 

The living echoes in Memory's halls, 
And the soul wafts back on Fancy's wings 

To the glowing pictures on Memory's 
walls. 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 141 

THE WORLD'S WAY. 

Don't talk of your troubles, the world 
don't care, 

It has grating sounds enough. 
Of trouble each person has his own share, 

That comes full heavy and rough, 
As you pass along 'mid the things that 
cloys, 

This truth you will always learn, 
The world is willing to share your joys, 

But from your sorrows will turn. 

It to revel in wealth should be your lot, 

Friends will hover around you then, 
For that always touches a tender spot, 

In the worldy hearts of men. 
But if fate's hard hand your fortune de- 
stroys, 

This lesson you quickly will learn, 
The world is willing to share your joys, 

But from your sorrows will turn. 



142 POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

Wherever you rove, you will always find, 

Man thinks but of number one, 
'Tis an unwritten law that rules mankind 

In every clime under the sun, 
No difference what are the things that 
annoys, 

Or how deeply the soul doth yearn, 
The world is willing to share your joys, 

But from your sorrows will turn. 



THE FIRST PAIR. 

When the great Jehovah made the king of 

creation, 
And set him on earth to keep it all 

straight. 
He saw that he needed some help in his 

station. 
So thought out a plan, how to make him 

a mate. 
And then to make his great work seem 

neater, 



rOEMS OP ADELBERT LEE YOE. 143 

Made man go to sleep, as the best way 

he thought, 
Then invented the thing to make his life 

sweeter, 
And ne'er missed his guess by one tittle 

or jot, 

You have learned of the way that the first 
man was moulded, 
In the writings of Moses the story is 
found. 
How he found all the stuff in the earth's 
bosom folded, 
And dug the ingredients up out of the 
ground. 
But when the time came for the making 
of woman, 
He reeled off his work by a different 
plan. 
You might think that he made her of fair 
flowers blooming. 
But he did'nt, but just out of part of the 
man. 



144 I'OEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 

But he didn't take her from the feet of 
his creature, 
Though man there most always has 
plenty to spare, 
If he had, I suppose 'twould have been a 
bad feature, 
For man might have abused and not 
treated her fair; 
Nor he didn't go up to the head for the 
making, 
For of that never man had an atom to 
lose, 
And she might have bossed, too, and kept 
man a quaking. 
And most of the time nigh scared out 
of his shoes. 

But he worked on a plan that has proved 

a sight better 
Than taking her out of man's head or 

his feet — 
If he had, life would be worse than hell's 

hottest fetter, 



POEMS OF ADELBERT LEE YOE. 145 

And a hell upon earth would be sure 

and complete; 
So while man asleep, on the green grass 

reclining, 
He just slipped a piece out from under 

his arm, 
And thus showed by a sign of an easy 

defining 
That man should protect her and keep 

her from harm. 



DEC 5 1901 



'X^f^ -xf»^ 



75^ 



'Cr. 



.A! 






■V 



/- 



-^S" 



»v> 



'"~Wr-*> 









''H?^ « r<S^^i 














>^:^;4r^>^3^>^r^,'-^ 










V ";r['j 



v^*- >«;h.,.^: 



PI. 



rVM 



'i 






'1- 












-a 



^'4, 




r: 



W '-^'^ 



dhM 



'■' ^ .. ^, €^. '^^ -^a---^' 



''■^ -.^s^'liVj^'v 



-"-??. "-^'^l*-fil''iv^ 







^ 



-'i^- ' 






/•* 









^^{/ 'i/r6^ 



:l>^'^. 



